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Dear all, What happened in Alabama on May 10, 2002 ? Was is out and out murder, or was it state assisted suicide? The question with its premise born from the High Court’s decision to review Ring V. Arizona is one that deserves contemplation. Consider that the Governor of Florida stayed an execution, based on the mere possibility that the statutes governing the application of the death penalty in Florida may be unconstitutionally should the US Supreme Court rule favorably in Ring. This possibility alone caused question to arise in the mind of a man who holds the lives of human beings in a precarious balance. Alabama chose to execute Lynda Lyon Block. “she shoe to die” many will say, but the prisoner in Florida chose to die when he became a volunteer to his own demise. However, the Governor saw the possibilities of executing someone under what could be a flawed, unconstitutional sentencing structure; the same sentencing structure embraced by Alabama. So why did Alabama choose to execute this woman when the probabilities are in fact the same as they are in Florida ? Why was it so important for the officials in Alabama to enter the killing Field” Lynda Lyon Block did NOT choose to die as a volunteer, she chose to die because the state gave her no other choice in respect of her beliefs the system is corrupt, and mired in political treachery, and injustice. Let’s
not forget this is an election year and the possibility of our Governor
losing office is high. Is it possible that he used the life of another
human being to enhance his position ? Did he kill to reach a means to his
personal political end ? Whatever you conclude, you must remember that
those we empower are also human beings with human fallibilities, and have
the same potential any one of us has in respect of murder.
He chose to kill a human being when the possibility
exists that our system my be flawed under the contention of Ring. He made
those choices, and that speaks volumes to me, especially when another
leader in the same position chose to make the right choice.
A simple question – did he, or didn’t he ?
You be the judge.
Daniel Siebert |